Safety lock assemblage for movable items

ABSTRACT

To prevent the theft or unauthorized removal or displacement of a movable property item there is provided an elongated flexible connection whose intermediate portion is looped about or secured to or through a portion of the item to be protected. A convenient support in the vicinity of the movable item has secured thereto a box and within the box is the body of a lock which covers and renders inaccessible the box securing means. The opposite ends of the elongated flexible connection are adjustably carried by the lock in a manner so that one or both of said ends may be released upon unlocking the lock. When the latter is locked it cannot be removed from the anchored box nor can the flexible connection be released from the lock or the property item to which it extends.

United States Patent [1 1 Foote Oct, 16, 1973 SAFETY LOCK ASSEMBLAGE FORMOVABLE ITEMS [75] Inventor: Daniel J. Foote, Wauwatosa, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Master Lock Company, Milwaukee,

Wis.

[22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 191,716

70/57, 58, 180, 212, DIG. 56, DIG. 57; 292/148; 248/203; 211/4, 5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 4,935 0/1885 Great Britain 70/34 959,2715/1964 Great Britain 70/57 Primary ExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr.Attorney-Curtis B. Morsell, Sr.

[57] ABSTRACT To prevent the theft or unauthorized removal ordisplacement of a movable property item there is provided an elongatedflexible connection whose intermediate portion is looped about orsecured to or through a portion of the item to be protected. Aconvenient support in the vicinity of the movable item has securedthereto a box and within the box is the body of a lock which covers andrenders inaccessible the box securing means. The opposite ends of theelongated flexible connection are adjustably carried by the lock in amanner so that one or both of said ends may be released upon unlockingthe lock. When the latter is locked it cannot be removed from theanchored box nor can the flexible connection be released from the lockor the property item to which it extends.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS949.809 2/1910 Sheen 70/62 1.792.403 2/1931 Stone... 70/49 X 3,605,4589/1971 Best 70/38 B 51,524 12/1865 Trimble 70/59 3,559,429 2/1971Hermann.... 70/85 3,606,423 9/1971 McCarthy 292/148 7 2: 1 I? l I fPATENI EDUBT l 6 I973 SHEET 1 BF 2 PATENTED GET 1 6 I975 sum 2 nr 2Iii-4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND SUMMARY THEREOF Innumerablevaluable movable items and equipment are subject to pilferage. Thisincludes various office equipment items such as typewriters, addingmachines, copiers, etc., as well as items with which hotel and motelrooms are equipped such as radios, television sets and lamps; and garageor shed stored appliances and equipment; and pier-docked boats, boatmounted motors and the like.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide asafety lock assemblage which cannot be unauthorizedly detached from itsmounting and which can be extended to and lockably engaged with any ofthe class of movable items above-mentioned to render the samepilfer-proof while still permitting said items to be moved or shiftedwithin a limited range.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety lock assemblageof the character described which is portable, which can be easilymounted against undesired removal on a suitable supporting surface onwhich the item to be protected is stationed, or adjacent thereto, whichcan be easily applied to or authorizcdly removed from the item to beprotected, and which is simple to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety lock assemblagein which a support mounted lock unit carries an outwardly extendedlooped flexible connection directed to and intermediately engaged withthe item to be protected, with the ends of said flexible connectionbeing lockably carried by the lock unit.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a safety lockassemblage for movable items which is strong and durable and providesmaximum protection, which is relatively inexpensive, and which. is welladapted for its intended purposes.

Prior art of which applicant is familiar include the U.S. Pats. toSchaefar, No. 3,2! 1,408; Sager et al. No. 1,274,203; Nagel No.3,585,823; and applicants copending application Ser. No. 13,395, filedFeb. 24, I970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,163 dated May 23, 1972. The priorart does not teach the utilization of a box anchored to a support andhousing a padlock body which covers and renders inaccessible the meanswhich fasten the box to its support, with a flexible connectionextending from a portion of the padlock to the item to be protected, thearrangement further being such that when the lock is released theflexible connection may be disengaged from the item it protects and thepadlock body may only then be removed from its anchored box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional-viestaken approximately along line 22 of FIG. 1 with other portions brokenaway and in section;

FIG. 3 is an exploded end and side perspective view of the mounting boxfor the assemblage and its support with the padlock body removed from anopen end of the box with one end portion of the elongated flexibleconnection released from the padlock body and disengaged from theprotected item;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 only showing a modified form of lockassemblage wherein the box houses a standard shackle padlock withthe'shackle engaging the links of a chain which is engaged with aportion of the item to be protected, the box being secured to thesupport by upwardly extended bolts;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the showing in FIG. 4 with parts broken awayand in section; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Generally speaking, theimproved safety lock assemblage includes a box anchored to a support andhousing a padlock body which, when in place, covers and rendersinaccessible the securing means for the box. The support carries amovable property item which is engaged by an intermediate portion ofalooped elongated flexible connection whose ends are engaged by a portionof the padlock.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. l-3 inclusive the assemblageutilizes a cable shackle padlock whose body is generally indicated bythe numeral 10 with the numeral 11 designating the elongated cableshackle. A box, having openings in certain of its walls, is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 12 and the same is mounted on a surface of asupport 13 in proximity to a movable property item 14, by screws 15which, in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. l-3 inclusive, gothrough the bottom wall of the box and into the body of the support withthe heads of the screws being covered and rendered inaccessible by thepadlock body 10 when the latter is housed within the box, as in FIGS. 1and 2. When the padlock body is in its housed, locked condition,engaging the freeable collared end portion 19 of the cable shackle 11,the padlock body cannot be removed from its box 12. Otherwise, it may beremoved through an opening 16 in an end of the box to expose the headsof the screws 15 which can be engaged by a screwdriver inserted throughan opening 17 in the top wall of the box 12. The end of said box,opposite the end containing the padlock entrance and removal opening 16,is formed with spaced-apart openings 18 and 18' through which thecollared end portions 19 and 20 of the cable shackle 11 extend. Thecollared end 20 of the cable shackle II is permanently secured withinthe padlock body, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The other collared end 19of the cable shackle is freeable, and outwardly of the collar 19 thenare reduced diameter portions 21 and 22 terminating in a head 23. Withthe assemblage in the condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for property itemsecuring purposes an intermediate portion of the cable shackle may bethreaded through or wrapped around some convenient portion of theprotected item 14. v

Merely by way of illustration the movable item 14 may be a piece ofoffice equipment such as a typewriter, adding machine, copier or thelike. One of the standard legs or supports carried by the item may, andthis is optional, be replaced by a special form ofa cylindrical, tubularleg 24, best shown in FIG. I and held to the base of the property item14 by a screw whose shank, inwardly of its head, carries collars 26.Also, frictionally held within the hollow leg 24 to cover and renderinaccessible to a tool, is a washer 27. Below said washer 27 the sidewalls of the leg 24 are formed with diametrically alined openings 28through which the cable shackle is threaded as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.In the operative and installed condition of the safety lock assemblagethe freeable end of the cable shackle is returned to the anchored box 12and inserted into the box opening 18 whose inner end is shouldered, asat 29. The shouldered inner end of the collar or bushing 19 engaging theshoulder 29 will prevent outward withdrawal of the padlock body 10through the box opening 16 when said freeable end of the cable shackleis locked within the padlock body by a reciprocal locking lever 30projected into the grooved reduced portion 22 of said shackle endthrough the operation of internal lock body mechanism operated by theturning of a key 31 inserted into the lock body key slot 32 which isaccessible through the box opening 16.

The locking lever mechanism housed within the padlock body 10 isessentially similar to that disclosed in the prior Foote US. Pat. No.3,473,352 of Oct. 21, I969. Also, in lieu of a key operated padlock theanchored box 12 may house the body of a permutation padlock of thegeneral type shown in the prior Soref et al. US. Pat. No. 2,893,231 ofJuly 7, I959. In this event, the top wall of the anchored box 12 wouldhave an opening therein of a size and shape to accommodate and renderaccessible the permutation lock dialing knob.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 4-6 inclusive the padlockbody 10 housed within the modified support-anchored box 12' hasreciprocatably and swingably associated therewith a U-shaped, relativelyshort shackle 33 of rigid metal and having a notched leg 34 which, whenunlocked and reciprocated out of its body or case opening 35 can beswung through a trough 36 provided therefor in the top and end wall ofthe box 12' to an open position, as shown in FIG. 5, permitting one orboth end links of an elongated flexible connection in the form ofa chain37 to be engaged with or disengaged from the lock shackle 33. Again, themechanism within the lock body which operates the locking lever 30 toengage it with or release it from the notch 38 in the freeable leg ofthe shackle is of the type disclosed in said prior Foote US. Pat. No.3,473,352.

The box 12 in the modified form of the invention may be secured onto thesurface of the support 13 in the manner shown in FIG. 1 or, elongatedbolts 39 whose heads engage the underside of the support are directedupwardly through the support and the bottom ofthe box 12' and theirthreaded extremities carry nuts 40 preferably lodged within recessestherefor in the bottom of the box 12', all as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and6. Said nuts are inaccessible when the padlock body is secured withinthe box 12', but when the shackle 33 has been unlocked and the chain 37disengaged therefrom the padlock may be removed from the box 12' throughthe opening 16 in its end, as in FIG. 6. Then,

tool access to the nuts 40 is possible through the specially formedopening 17 in the top of the box. When the box is to be mounted onto asupport surface or removed therefrom the padlock must be removed fromthe box. As long as it is locked within the box access to the securingmeans for the latter is precluded, and this is an important safetyfactor, as in the principal form of the invention an intermediate extentof the elongated connection (a chain in FIGS. 4 and 5) is secured aboutsome portion of the property item to be protected. As shown in FIGS. 4and 5 the item may carry a rod or bar 41 or other ledge or the likeabout which the chain or elongated connection is looped. Both ends ofthe chain are secured onto the padlock shackle 33 and when the latter islocked within the padlock body the chain cannot be detached nor can itbe unauthorizedly removed from the item it is anchoring and protecting,although permitting a limited range of movement for the latter.

As is best shown in FIGS: 4 and 5 when the shackle is locked within thebody 10' with the ends of the chain engaged on the shackle only alimited portion of said short shackle projects out of the box 12' andthe partitions 42 therewithin. This results in a snug engagement for theend links of the chain. Consequently, if a tamperer should attempt toslide the padlock out of the box 12 contact of the shackle-engaged endlinks of the chain 37 with said internal box partitions 42 will preventlongitudinal withdrawal of the padlock from its box. The latter can onlybe accomplished after the chain ends have been disengaged from theshackle 33, with the shackle thereafter being closed in empty condition,as in FIG. 6.

SUMMARY As was mentioned heretofore the padlock may be of any desiredtype and can incorporate an elongated cable shackle which then becomesthe tether engaging a portion of the property item to be protected. Or,the padlock may have a standard shackle which engages the opposite endsof an elongated flexible connection which extends to and secures theproperty item.

With the padlock body being locked within the support-anchored box 12 or12' and having the elongated flexible connection intermediately engagedwith a portion of the property item with the ends of the flexibleconnection held by the padlock in the locked condition of the latter,the protected property item is only susceptible of being moved through avery limited range and it cannot be taken away from the support andpilfered. With the padlock body locked within its box, through the meanspreviously described it is not removable through the box opening 16 andwill cover the box securing means 15 or 39, rendering the sameinaccessible to a tamperer. Double protection is afforded. The elongatedflexible connection cannot, under the conditions stated, be disengagedfrom the protected item, nor can the box and padlock portions of theassemblage be surrepticiously removed from the support. However, byunlocking the padlock one or both ends of the elongated flexibleconnection can be disengaged from the padlock body for disconnectionrelative to the property item. By removing the padlock body from itsbox, as in FIGS. 3 and 6, access to the box securing means can be gainedwhereby the box may be removed from the support for use of theassemblage in a different location, if desired, for the protection ofsome other property item.

As previously indicated the improved safety lock assembla ge issusceptible of usage forthe protection of vast varieties of movableproperty items. In addition to its use for office equipment andaccessories in hotel rooms and public places, the assemblage can be usedto protect garage and shed stored items or it can be used on boats andpiers for safeguarding marine equipment and/or boat accessories, motors,oars, etc. The assemblage is free of manufacturing complications, iseasy to install, engage with a property item and operate, is portableand susceptible of easy re-location, is

strong, durable and effective, and is furthermore well adapted for thepurposes described.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination,a support; a box mounted on the support and havingopenings in certain of its walls; securing means between the support andthe box and terminating therewithin; a lock having a body lockablyhoused within said box and rendering said securing means inaccessible;said lock body having an element of a lock mechanism actuator accessiblethrough one of said box wall openings; and a shackle having itsendportions lockably securable to the lock body, there being contactingshoulders between a portion of a secured end of the shackle and said boxpreventing the removal of the lock body from the box when said body isin its locked condition within the box.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein one end portion of theshackle is releasable from the padlock body when unlocked and isextended through one of said box openings, the last-mentioned portion ofthe shackle and the box having cooperating means for preventing slidingmovement of the lock body relative to the box when the shackle is lockedto the lock body.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the shackle includes anelongated flexible connection which extends to an item to be protected,the latter carrying an apertured protuberance through which anintermediate portion of the flexible connection is threaded, there beingsecuring means between an inner portion of said protuberance and theitem to be protected rendered inaccessible by the threaded throughportion of the elongated flexible connection.

4. In combination, a support; a box-like enclosure mounted on thesupport and having a base with walls along all marginal portions of thebase extending perpendicularly to the base, there being openings in someof the perpendicular walls; securing means between the support and thebox base terminating within said boxlike enclosure; and a lock bodylockably housed within said enclosure in covering relation to saidsecuring means to render the latter inaccessible; said lock body havingan element of a lock mechanism accessible through one of said enclousrewall openings, and the lock body, when unlocked, being movablelongitudinally of the enclosure in a plane parallel to the base of thelatter into and out of the box-like enclosure through the same wallopening which provides accessibility to the lock mechanism actuator.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein the box-like enclosure issix-sided and there are means within the enclosure for preventingmovement of the lock body out of the enclosure when the lock body islocked.

1. In combination, a support; a box mounted on the support and havingopenings in certain of its walls; securing means between the support andthe box and terminating therewithin; a lock having a body lockablyhoused within said box and rendering said securing means inaccessible;said lock body having an element of a lock mechanism actuator accessiblethrough one of said box wall openings; and a shackle having its endportions lockably securable to the lock body, there being contactingshoulders between a portion of a secured end of the shackle and said boxpreventing the removal of the lock body from the box when said body isin its locked condition within the box.
 2. The combination recited inclaim 1 wherein one end portion of the shackle is releasable from thepadlock body when unlocked and is extended through one of said boxopenings, the last-mentioned portion of the shackle and the box havingcooperating means for preventing sliding movement of the lock bodyrelative to the box when the shackle is locked to the lock body.
 3. Thecombination recited in claim 1 wherein the shackle includes an elongatedflexible connection which extends to an item to be protected, the lattercarrying an apertured protuberance through which an intermediate portionof the flexible connection is threaded, there being securing meansbetween an inner portion of said protuberance and the item to beprotected rendered inaccessible by the threaded through portion of theelongated flexible connection.
 4. In combination, a support; a box-likeenclosure mounted on the support and having a base with walls along allmarginal portions of the base extending perpendicularly to the base,there being openings in some of the perpendicular walls; securing meansbetween the support and the box base terminating within said box-likeenclosure; and a lock body lockably housed within said enclosure incovering relation to said securing means to render the latterinaccessible; said lock body having an element of a lock mechanismaccessible through one of said enclousre wall openings, and the lockbody, when unlocked, being movable longitudinally of the enclosure in aplane parallel to the base of the latter into and out of the box-likeenclosure through the same wall opening which provides accessibility tothe lock mechanism actuator.
 5. The combination recited in claim 4wherein the box-like enclosure is six-sided and there are means withinthe enclosure for preventing movement of the lock body out of theenclosure when the lock body is locked.